Container closure



March 5, 1968 w. H. McKNIGHT 3,371,811

CONTAINER CLOSURE Filed Nov. 20, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. WilliamH. McKnight ATTORNEY March 5, 1968 w. H. M KNIGHT CONTAINER CLOSURE 2Sheets-Sheet Filed Nov. 20, 1964 FIG.3

FIG. 4

INVENTOR. William H. McKnight (fly/7.

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,371,81 1 CONTAINER CLOSURE William H.McKnight, Corning, N.Y., assignor t0 Coring Glass Works, Corning, N.Y.,a corporation of New ork Filed Nov. 20, 1964, Ser. No. 412,607 3 Claims.(Cl. 215--39) This invention relates to container closures and moreparticularly to a tape seal closure for hermetically sealing wide-mouthcontainers which may be repeatedly reclosed and reopened after thevacuum has once been released.

At the present time, container closures are being widely used in thepackaging of food products. One method of packaging is to place suitablyprepared food in a glass container and to seal with a closure. Propersubsequent treatment of the food filled container creates a vacuumwithin said container. In some presently available container closures,it is this vacuum alone by which the container closure is held in placeto prevent spoilage of the food.

Consumer tests have shown that once the vacuum is released, this looselyfitting lid is not acceptable as a reclosure. It thus is necessary toadd a mechanical lock to hold the closure in place when reclosure isdesired. This lock may be in the form of a rolled edge of metal under aglass bead or suitable retaining lugs bearing against the sides of thecontainer finish. A further disadvantage of prior closure cap devices isthat bending, distortion, or cracking of the closure often occurs duringremoval so that the closures cannot be reapplied to the container.

Some prior art devices provide a centrally located hole in the closure.Prior to sealing the closure to the container a removable tape closesthe hole. This method does not interfere with the ability of the closureto be held on the container by vacuum. In order to remove the closure,it is necessary to partially remove the tape covering said centrallylocated hole, thus releasing the vacuum. This same tape then acts as ahandle to lift the closure from the container. One such device has norim, lugs, or other mechanical interference fit with the glass finish.It can then be replaced as a loose lid to close the container but itsdisadvantage lies in the fact that there is no mechanical means ofholding the lid in place once it has been removed. Another such deviceadds a mechanical lock to hold the closure in place. However, when thisis done, the effort to remove the closure by pulling on the centrallylocated tape is too great and removal of the closure is very difficult.

The present invention not only alleviates the problem of removalheretofore encountered with known types of closures, but also provides aconvenient easily-operable closure which is readily reclosable once thevacuum seal is broken. Basically my invention relates to a tape sealclosure wherein a hole is located eccentrically, near the circumferenceof the closure. Such a location will not interfere with the vacuumrelease function of such hole. A fixed end of the tape is situatedbetween the perimeter of the closure and the hole. Such location of thefixed end of the tape and of the hole will not interfere with the vacuumrelease function of the hole; the tape so located will provide a leverarm to aid in the closure removal. Thus a device is created which willallow a mechanical lock to hold the closure in place and at the sametime provide a means of easy removal and reapplication.

It thus has been an object of the present invention to provide animproved, easily removable, closure for widemouthed containers.

A further object of the invention is to provide a closure cap which willnot bend or crack during removal.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a low cost containerclosure.

A further object of the invention is to provide a closure with a tamperflag to indicate a loss of vacuum.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be shown in thefollowing detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof asillustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the container closure with a vent and atamper flag fitted tightly to the closure.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1illustrating the positionment of the closure on a container after thetamper tab has been lifted from the vent and the vacuum released.

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of another embodiment of the presentinvention as applied to a closure provided with retaining lugs.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section taken along line 44 of FIG. 3illustrating the positionment of a second embodiment of the closureafter the tamper flag has been lifted from the vent and vacuum released.

Referring now to the drawing, a mouth defining neck portion of acontainer, such as a glass jar 8, is provided with an annular,outwardly-projecting beaded finish 10. A container closure 12 such as acap or lid of any suitable plastic or non-corrosive sheet metal isformed with a substantially fiat, circular top portion or panel 14 whichprojects within the open upper end of the mouth defining neck portion ofcontainer 8.

Annular, gasket receiving channel 16 inclines upwardly and outwardlyfrom the outer margin of the circular top portion 14. Gasket receivingchannel 16 is bounded by gripping finish means 18 such as annular,downwardlydepending curvilinear beam section shown in FIG. 2, which isturned or rolled to conform to and grip beaded finish 10. Such procedureallows for the absorption of glass tolerances and any out of roundconditions.

In order to hermetically seal the closure 12 to the container, when thecontainer is filled, a suitable sealing ring or gasket 20 composed of anelastomeric material, such as rubber or the like, is applied to theinner surface of gasket receiving channel 16. The gasket cooperates withthe gasket-receiving channel 16 and the container, and is compressed toform a seal by the impression of the glass into the elastomeric materialof the sealing ring.

An aperture or vent 22 is formed in container closure 12. In a preferredembodiment, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the vent 22 is situated near theouter circumference of circular top panel 14.

A tamper flag or tab 24 which is partially removable is relativelyaflix'ed to the upper surface of container closure 12. In a preferredembodiment tab 24 has a free'end 26 and a fixed end 28. The free end 26merges into lateral extensions 30 of fixed end 28. The tamper flag 24 ismade of a suitable non-corrosive material such as a sheet metal or thinplastic.

The fixed end of the tamper tab is positioned in a radial alignment withthe vent 22 and adheres to the upper surface of the closure from thevicinity of the perimeter of said closure and inwardly to a point atleast past the vent 22. A suitable adhesive is used to attach the tab tothe upper surface of container closure 12. The adhesive exhibits theproperties of low peel strength but high tensile strength. The tab issufficiently attached to the container closure so that vent 22 is shutoff from the atmosphere and a vacuum can exist inside the container.

To open the container, free end 26 is pulled away from the containerclosure and the adhesive peels such that the vacuum is released throughvent 22. The fixed end is wider in an outwardly direction from vent 22due to the lateral extensions 30. When this wider section is reached itbecomes harder to peel tab 24 from closure 12 than it is to lift theclosure from its engagement with the container. Thus the tab exhibitsthe dual function of releasing the vacuum through vent 22 when desired,'and further acts as an aid to lifting the closure from the container.

It is within the course and scope of the present invention that the areaof fixed end 28 may be varied to prevent complete removal of the tabfrom the closure. It is further within the course and scope of thepresent invention to use two types of adhesive; a low peel strengthadhesive would be used in the vicinity of the vent and a high peelstrength adhesive would be used in the area of the fixed end nearest theperimeter of the closure to prevent complete removal of the tab from theclosure.

Once the tamper flag 24 is lifted it can never be pushed down again intocomplete contact with the upper surface of the container closure. Thus aprospective purchaser is made aware of the fact that the vacuum of theclosure may be broken and spoilage of the contents of the container ispossible.

A further embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 3 whereina press on type of closure is shown. This type of closure is adopted tobe applied containers by forcing it down on the finish of the container.Such a procedure allows the absorption of large glass tolerances and outof round conditions.

In this embodiment a mouth defining neck portion of the container, suchas a glass jar 37, is shown having an annular, outwardly-projectingbeaded finish 39. A container closure 41 such as a cap or lid is appliedto the container 37. Substantially flat, circular top panel or portion43 is relatively inserted within the mouth defining neck portion ofcontainer 37. Annular, gasket-receiving channel 45 inclines upwardly andoutwardly from the outer margin of the top portion 43. Annular, gasketreceiving channel 45 is bounded by annular, downwardlydepending skirtportion 47. Means for gripping the container finish, such asperipherally-spaced, internal, closure retaining lugs 49 are formed inannular, downwardly depending skirt portion 47. Lugs deform on beingapplied to the glass to accommodate any out of round and tolerancevariation of the glass finish. The lugs bear against the sides of thecontainer finish to hold the cap in place. Since the lugs are flexible,the closure or cap may move upwardly without bending or cracking. Asuitable sealing ring or gasket 51, composed of an elastomeric material,such as rubber or the like, is applied to the inner surface of gasketreceiving channel 45.

Vent 22 performs the same function and is situated in' the same locationin container closure 41 as in container closure 12. Tamper flag 24 ofclosure 41 is attached and adheres in the same manner and is located ina similar position as it was in container closure 12.

In order to facilitate grasping the tamper flag 24, as it is beingpartially removed and used to lift the closure from the container, aribbed portion 53 may be provided at the outer extremity free end 26.

It is within the true course and scope of the present invention that tab24 may be applied to any known configuration of vacuum closure which isprovided with a suitable aperture, such as 22.

Thus this invention is able to provide 'an improved, tape-seal closurefrom vacuum containers. Partial removal of the tape covering a holewhich is located eccentrically near the circumference of the closurereleases the vacuum. Suitable configuration and suitable application ofadhesive or adhesives prevents this same tape from being completelyremoved from the closure and thus the tape acts as a handle to lift theclosure from the container. Since the fixed end of the tape ispermanently secured to the closure adjacent one side of itscircumference, a lever arm substantially equal to the diameter of theclosure is in effect provided for easily facilitating the removal of theclosure. That is, as the closure is lifted off of the container bylifting the pull tab attached to one side of the closure adjacent itscircumference, the closure is pivoted about the neck finish of thecontainer at the opposite side of the closure. Such ease of removalderived by this mechanical advantage was not possible with the knowntypes of vented closures. Means for gripping the container finish holdthe closure in place during the initial vacuum period and duringsubsequent reclosure operations.

Reclosure may be maintained by a curvilinear beam section or retaininglugs which mechanically grip the jar finish. The tamper flag, oncelifted, can never be pushed down completely flat again and serves as awarning to a consumer of the possible contamination of the contents.This invention thus provides an improved easily-opened closure which notonly hermetically seals the container but which may be repeatedlyreclosed and reopened.

Although the forms of embodiment of the present invention as disclosedherein embody preferred forms, it is to be understood that other formsmight be adopted, without departing from the true spirit and scope ofthe appended claims.

I claim:

1. An improved closure for open mouth containers which are vacuum packedand hermetically sealed and which may be readily reclosed and reopenedonce the vacuum is broken which comprises, a circular top panelprojectable within a mouth-defining neck portion of a container, anannular gasket-receiving channel inclined outwardly and upwardly fromthe outer mar-gin of the said top panel for receiving saidmouth-defining neck portion of such container, means for gripping anouter finish H of said neck portion, an annular sealing gasketpositioned within said annular gasket-receiving channel, a ventpenetrating the top panel of said closure, .a partially removable tabpermanently secured to the upper surface of said closure adjacent theperimeter thereof and extending inwardly to cover said vent and preventloss of vacuum until such time as said tab is partially removed, andsaid tab being permanently fixed at its outer extremity adjacent theperimeter with a high peel strength adhesive and semi-permanentlyaffixed inwardly thereof by a low peel strength adhesive.

2. An improved closure as defined in claim 1 wherein the said means forgripping the outer finish is an annular downwardly-depending curvilinearbeam-section bounding said gasket-receiving channel which conforms toand grips said gasket-receiving channel which conforms to and grips saidfinish.

3. An improved closure as defined in claim 1 wherein said means forgripping said container finish is an annular, downwardly-depending skirtportion bounding said gasket-receiving channel and a plurality ofperipherallyspaced, internal, closure retaining lugs indented at spacedintervals in said skirt portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 793,107 6/1905 Staunton 215561,019,106 3/1912 Wheaton 215-56 2,870,935 1/1959 Houghtelling 220-533,142,401 7/1964 Foss et al.

3,163,310 12/1964 Blakslee 21546 3,203,570 8/1965 Bindschedler 215393,217,951 11/1965 Paal.

3,243,075 3/ 1966 Reinke 220-44 DONALD F. NORTON, Primary Examiner.

JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Examiner.

1. AN IMPROVED CLOSURE FOR OPEN MOUTH CONTAINERS WHICH ARE VACUUM PACKEDAND HERMETICALLY SEALED AND WHICH MAY BE READILY RECLOSED AND REOPENEDONCE THE VACUUM IS BROKEN WHICH COMPRISES, A CIRCULAR TOP PANELPROJECTABLE WITHIN A MOUTH-DEFINING NECK PORTION OF A CONTAINER, ANANNULAR GASKET-RECEIVING CHANNEL INCLINED OUTWARDLY AND UPWARDLY FROMTHE OUTER MARGIN OF THE SAID TOP PANEL FOR RECEIVING SAID MOUTH-DEFININGNECK PORTION OF SUCH CONTAINER, MEANS FOR GRIPPING AN OUTER FINISH OFSAID NECK PORTION, AN ANNULAR SEALING GASKET POSITIONED WITHIN SAIDANNULAR GASKET-RECEIVING CHANNEL, VENT PENETRATING THE TOP PANEL OF SAIDCLOSURE, A PARTIALLY REMOVABLE TAN PERMANENTLY SECURED TO THE UPPERSURFACE OF SAID CLOSURE ADJACENT THE PERIMETER THEREOF AND EXTENDINGINWARDLY TO COVER SAID VENT AND PREVENT LOSS OF VACUUM UNTIL SUCH TIMEAS SAID TAB IS PARTIALLY REMOVED, AND SAID TAB BEING PERMANENTLY FIXEDAT ITS OUTER EXTREMITY ADJACENT THE PERIMETER AFFIXED INWARDLY THEREOFBY A LOW PEEL STRENGTH ADHESIVE.
 2. AN IMPROVED CLOSURE AS DEFINED INCLAIM 1 WHEREIN THE SAID MEANS FOR GRIPPING THE OUTE FINISH IS ANANNULAR DOWNWARDLY-DEPENDING CURVILINEAR BEAM SECTION BOUNDING SAIDGASKET-RECEIVING CHANNEL WHICH CONFORMS TO AND GRIPS SAIDGASKET-RECEIVING CHANNEL WHICH CONFORMS TO AND GRIPS SAID FINISH.